Council not interested in traffic-light fund

The Basehor City Council agreed last week to send the Kansas Department of Transportation a letter stating the city would not establish a fund to pay for a future traffic light at 166th Street and U.S. Highway 24-40.

The council approved sending the letter by unanimous vote, 4-0.

During a recent meeting between city and state transportation officials, it was suggested by KDOT that the city consider setting up a fund for a traffic light at the intersection in west Basehor.

Thursday night, the council decided against the fund, which public officials would have been required to manage and maintain.

"It's just probably premature," Basehor mayor Chris Garcia said. "It's more work than what's needed at this time."

Rough estimates indicate that improving the intersection and adding a traffic signal could cost $1 million. The south side of the intersection, near the Honey Creek residential development, was annexed into Basehor in 2003.

Also Monday night, representatives from three engineering companies met with the council to discuss a proposed study of the city's wastewater treatment facility.

There was no decision made Monday on which firm to hire. The issue is scheduled for a vote at next week's meeting, Monday, Sept. 19, at Basehor City Hall.

The city is attempting to learn the precise capacity of the treatment plant. Capacity numbers determined by city staff indicate that 75 to 100 additional connections separate the treatment plant from its maximum capacity.

Council members are considering a project that would increase capacity from 535,000 gallons per day to up to 2.4 million gallons per day.

Engineers have estimated the cost of such a project to range between $5.5 million and $6 million.

Based on the recommendation from city engineer Joe McAfee, the council invited two Kansas City, Mo., firms -- Wilson and Co., and Burns and McDonnell -- to present a proposal for studying the treatment plant's capacity.

A third company, Larkin Group, also of Kansas City, Mo., attended the meeting and is interested in conducting the treatment plant study. Basehor Mayor Chris Garcia said the city did not invite Larkin to the meeting, but will allow the company to submit a price for the project anyway.

Costs submitted by Wilson and Co., and Burns and McDonnell for the treatment plant study were not disclosed Monday.

In other action, the city council:

Approved, 4-0, a right of way management ordinance and fees.

Approved, 4-0, installation of sanitary sewers for phase three of the Prairie Lakes subdivision; installation of sod at 3702 N. 155th St., and completion of dirt work at 15704 Poplar.